July 17, 2009

Cowley’s ‘Sox Trade Sleepers’

* Alex Rios, Toronto Blue Jays OF: General manager Ken Williams loves Rios’ athletic ability, and the Jays might be in for a major salary purge.

* Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants LHP: The Giants are one of the few teams that have a glut of starting pitchers, especially once Randy Johnson returns. They would have to pick up a big part of Zito’s deal, and he would have to waive his no-trade clause.

* Erik Bedard, Mariners LHP: The Mariners will be making a decision about being sellers very soon and have two big chips in Bedard and fellow left-hander Jarrod Washburn. Washburn wouldn’t be a good fit at the Cell.

* Dan Haren, Arizona Diamondbacks RHP: The Diamondbacks seem ready to go into blow-up mode, and the Sox have been a frequent trade partner for them. It would take a Jake Peavy-sized offer to land him, though.